Chapter 22- Celebration
Amanda entered the dining room and Charles rolled the wheelchair to her. "Hello, my love," Charles said, his blue eyes glowing with happiness.
"Dad. Mama. Hi, Uncle Erik. Glad you made it," Amanda said to her father's and Aunt Raven's best friend.
"Hello, Amanda. Thank you for inviting me," Erik said, giving her a hug.
"Well, Dad did say you haven't observed Chanukah since I was two and you used to come here every year," Amanda said.
"That would be correct. I just haven't had time and I am not as good of a Jew as you appear to be," Erik teased, jerking on one of her dark braids.
"Okay, I'll take that. But surely your parents taught you how to be a good Jew before the Holocaust jerked the carpet out from under you," Amanda said as Jackson and Naomi came in with Jackson holding the family menorah.
"They did. Actually, your father saw my happiest memory was when my family lit the menorah before the war killed them," Erik said.
"I can see why the holiday would make you happy. I love Chanukah. Abba always goes and gets three kinds of jelly doughnuts and I love latkes. When Ima taught me how to cook, latkes was the first thing I ever made," Amanda said as she sat down on Charles's lap.
"Latkes?" David asked.
"Potato pancakes. Some people eat them with jam and sour cream. I like them with a touch of rosemary and salt," Amanda said.
"Sounds good," Raven said.
"Yeah. Abba likes his with a Mexican flavor. He puts salsa and guacamole on his. I guess it's like pizza. No two people can agree on pizza toppings," Amanda said.
"What's your favorite, Sweets?" Charles asked.
"All-beef pepperoni and cheese with bell peppers. It's a safe go-to since Jewish dietary law forbid pork pepperonis," Amanda said as Jackson put two candles on the menorah.
"Sass, it's time," Jackson said.
"Okay, it's time," Amanda said as she stood and went to the table. Everyone sat, Charles putting the wheelchair next to Amanda's seat as Jackson started the Hebrew blessings.
"Praise be Thou, Eternal our God, who causes us to light the Chanukah lights," Jackson said as he lit the first candle in the Chanukiah and then lit the other candle with the first one.
"Sarah, tell everyone why we celebrate Chanukah," Naomi said.
"When the Greeks tried to convert the Jews and change how we worshiped, the Eternal our God raised up the Maccabees; four brothers from the Levitical priesthood. They fought in great battles and returned our temple to us. When the priests went in, the temple had been ransacked and there was only enough oil for the menorahs for one day. The menorah was lit and the miracle was that the oil lasted eight days, giving time to make more. That is why we observe for eight days," Amanda said.
"On the first night we light one candle. We light one every night. On the last night, all eight will be lit. Now let's eat," Jackson said.
"Shouldn't we blow them out?" David asked quizzically.
"No, David. What I remember is that you have to let them burn themselves out. Only during the Holocaust did we blow them out," Erik said.
"Well, like Otto said in "The Diary of Anne Frank," I'm sure God understood shortages," Amanda said. Naomi laughed as they all went to the buffet and got dinner.
Amanda set down her plate 30 minutes later. "May I have the honor of this Chanukah dance?" Erik asked, giving her a bow.
"Do you remember how to dance the Hora, Uncle Erik?" Amanda asked as she took his hand.
"Of course," Erik said as Sarah and Jackson joined them and they all joined hands.
"David, Mama, Uncle Hank, Aunt Raven, come join us. This dance only works if a lot of people do it," Amanda said and everyone joined hands.
